Best Time to Visit
June to October (dry season, best wildlife viewing); January-February for calving season in southern Serengeti
Language
Swahili (Kiswahili), English
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS), USD widely accepted for tours and park fees
Time Zone
EAT (UTC+3)
Airport
Kilimanjaro International (JRO) or Seronera Airstrip (SEU) for bush flights
Population
N/A — national park; nearest city Arusha has ~600,000
Climate
Tropical savanna, dry season 15-28°C, wet season 20-30°C with afternoon showers
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1 within parks, with registered operators)
Park Size
14,763 km² — UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981
Over 2 million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle follow a circular route through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The Mara River crossings (July-October) are the most dramatic — crocodiles, chaos, and survival. Position in northern Serengeti for crossings. Multi-day camping safaris from $250-500/day.
The world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera (19 km diameter), home to roughly 25,000 large animals including rare black rhino. Park fee: $70.80/person/day. A half-day game drive descends 600m into the crater floor. Usually combined with Serengeti in a 5-7 day safari circuit.
Float over the Serengeti plains at dawn with Serengeti Balloon Safaris. The 1-hour flight includes a champagne bush breakfast after landing. Cost: $500-600/person. Book at least 1 month ahead. Departures from Seronera and Kogatende areas.
The park's wildlife hub year-round, where the Seronera River attracts resident lions, leopards, hippos, and crocodiles. The kopjes (rocky outcrops) are prime leopard territory. Most lodges and camps are based here. Best for first-time visitors.
Serengeti has one of Africa's highest concentrations of all Big Five. Morning drives depart at 6AM (best for predator activity). Full-day drives with packed lunch cover more ground. Private vehicle safaris offer flexibility; group vehicles are cheaper at $150-200/day.
A paleoanthropological site between Ngorongoro and Serengeti where the Leakey family discovered 1.8-million-year-old hominid fossils. Small museum on-site with fossil casts. Entry: $5. Allow 1 hour. Usually a stop on the drive between the crater and Serengeti.
Mobile tented camps like Serengeti Under Canvas and Alex Walker's Serian move with the migration. Expect king beds, hot showers, gourmet meals, and lions outside your tent at night. All-inclusive rates from $600-1,500/person/night.
Fly into Kilimanjaro International (JRO). Transfer to Arusha — the gateway city for Serengeti safaris. Meet your tour operator and prepare for tomorrow's early departure.
Arrive at JRO airport(1 hour)
E-visa required ($50/$100 for US). Apply online 2 weeks ahead at visa.immigration.go.tz
Transfer to Arusha hotel(1 hour)
Airport shuttle or arranged transfer $30-50. Arusha is the safari capital of Tanzania
Safari briefing with tour operator(1 hour)
Meet your guide, review the itinerary, and confirm gear. Bring USD cash (post-2013 bills only) for tips and park fees
Dinner at Arusha Coffee Lodge(1.5 hours)
Set in a coffee plantation with excellent Tanzanian cuisine. Try the Zanzibar-spiced seafood. $20-40 per person
7-8 hour drive from Arusha to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at Olduvai Gorge. The landscape shifts from farmland to savanna to the crater rim.
Early morning departure from Arusha(30 minutes)
Leave by 6AM. Your safari vehicle (Land Cruiser with pop-top roof) is your home for the week
Drive through Ngorongoro highlands(5 hours)
Climb to the crater rim at 2,286m. The road passes through lush highland forest with colobus monkeys
Olduvai Gorge museum stop(1 hour)
Where the Leakey family discovered 1.8-million-year-old hominid fossils. Small museum with fossil casts. $5 entry
Check into Ngorongoro lodge or campsite(30 minutes)
Rim lodges from $200-800/night. Campsites at Simba Camp $30-50. The crater views at sunset are staggering
Sunset at the crater rim(1 hour)
Watch the sun set over the 19 km wide crater floor 600m below. Often misty and atmospheric
A half-day game drive descending into the world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera — home to 25,000 large animals including rare black rhino. Park fee $70.80/person/day.
Dawn descent into the crater(30 minutes)
The steep road down takes 20 min. The crater floor opens up into a miniature Africa — grasslands, forest, lake, and swamp
Morning game drive on crater floor(4 hours)
All Big Five are resident. Black rhino (about 20 remaining) are the star — scan the open grassland. Flamingos carpet Lake Magadi. Lions often rest near the road
Picnic lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs(1 hour)
Hippo pool surrounded by fever trees. Packed lunch in the vehicle — kites will steal food from your hands
Ascend the crater and drive to Serengeti(3 hours)
Cross the Ngorongoro-Serengeti plain. The transition from crater forest to endless savanna is dramatic. Enter Serengeti through Naabi Hill gate
Full day in the wildlife-rich Seronera Valley — the park's year-round hub with resident lions, leopards, hippos, and crocodiles along the Seronera River.
Sunrise game drive from camp(4 hours)
The rocky outcrops (kopjes) are prime leopard territory. Lions drape over the rocks at dawn. Seronera River crossings attract hippos and crocodiles
Lunch at Seronera Visitor Centre(1 hour)
The only public facility in central Serengeti. Basic meals and cold drinks. Or packed lunch in the vehicle
Afternoon game drive — Makoma Hill circuit(3 hours)
Quieter roads with excellent giraffe, topi, and Thomson's gazelle. Hyena dens are often spotted near the rocky outcrops
Sundowner in the bush(1 hour)
Your guide finds a scenic viewpoint for a sunset drink. Gin and tonic with the Serengeti stretching to the horizon. Unforgettable
An optional dawn balloon flight over the plains, followed by a full day of game driving. The balloon is expensive but universally regarded as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Hot air balloon safari(3 hours)
$500-600/person. Departs at dawn. 1-hour flight over the Serengeti watching herds from above. Includes champagne bush breakfast after landing. Book 1 month ahead through Serengeti Balloon Safaris
Continue game driving after balloon(3 hours)
Rejoin your guide for a post-breakfast drive. Different perspective after seeing the landscape from above
Afternoon drive targeting big cats(3 hours)
Ask your guide about recent lion pride sightings. The Serengeti has one of the highest lion densities in Africa — 3,000+ individuals
Return to camp for dinner(1 hour)
Camp dinner under the stars. Listen to hyenas whooping in the darkness outside the tent
Depending on the season, drive toward the migration herds (northern Serengeti July-Oct, southern Dec-Mar) or explore remote corners of the park.
Full day game drive with packed lunch(8 hours)
Long drives to reach migration herds or quieter corners. Your guide tracks the herds based on recent reports. Group safaris $200-350/day; private $400-700+
River crossing watch (Jul-Oct)(2 hours)
If timing aligns — watch wildebeest cross the Mara River. Crocodiles wait below. The most dramatic wildlife spectacle on Earth. Patience required — crossings happen unpredictably
Bush lunch under an acacia tree(1 hour)
Packed lunch in the shade while vultures circle above and zebra graze nearby
Return drive to camp(2 hours)
The golden hour drive back to camp often produces the best sightings — predators become active
Final sunrise game drive, then the long drive back to Arusha or a bush flight. The journey is a game drive in itself.
Sunrise farewell game drive(2 hours)
Last chance for the big cats. The early morning light on the Serengeti plains is the image you'll remember forever
Drive to Arusha or bush flight(7-8 hours driving / 1.5 hours flying)
Bush flights Seronera to Arusha cost $250-400 one way (Coastal Aviation, Auric Air). 15 kg luggage in soft bags. The drive is long but scenic through the Ngorongoro highlands
Dinner in Arusha(1.5 hours)
If driving: celebrate at Via Via restaurant (cultural center with live music, $15-25) or The Blue Heron ($20-35). Tip your guide $15-20/day in crisp post-2013 USD bills
Transfer to JRO for departure(1 hour)
JRO is 46 km from Arusha. Arrange through your operator. 2 hours before international flights
All visitors need a visa. Apply online at visa.immigration.go.tz at least 2 weeks before travel. Single-entry tourist visa costs $50 (US/EU) or $100 (US citizens). Processing takes 3-10 business days. Visa on arrival is being phased out — apply online to be safe.
Serengeti park fees are $70.80/person/day (adults), plus $59/vehicle/day for foreign-registered vehicles. Ngorongoro is $70.80/person/day. A 5-day Serengeti + Ngorongoro circuit costs $350+ in fees alone per person. These are typically included in safari package prices.
Joining a group safari (4-6 people in a shared vehicle) through operators in Arusha costs $200-350/day all-inclusive, versus $400-700+ for private. Budget operators like Kibo Slopes, Gladys Adventure, and Pristine Trails are well-reviewed. Book via SafariBookings.com for verified reviews.
Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if arriving from an endemic country (including Kenya, Ethiopia, and most of East/West Africa). Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel. The certificate is valid for life.
The Serengeti is in a high-risk malaria zone. Take prophylaxis (Malarone recommended), use DEET repellent, and sleep under treated nets. Long sleeves and pants at dusk reduce bites. Symptoms can appear up to 4 weeks after travel — see a doctor immediately if you develop fever.
The drive from Arusha to Serengeti takes 7-8 hours on rough roads. Bush flights from Arusha (ARK) to Seronera (SEU) take 1.5 hours and cost $250-400 one way. Coastal Aviation and Auric Air are the main operators. Weight limit: 15 kg per person in soft bags only.
Tipping is expected and important: $15-20/day for your safari guide/driver, $5-10/day for camp staff. Put tips in an envelope at the end of each stay. Tip in USD — crisp bills printed after 2013 only (older notes are rejected in Tanzania).
TipsFrom the bush flight that saves two days of driving to the USD bill date that gets rejected — here's what the brochures don't tell you.
Travel GuidesA champagne breakfast on the savanna, coffee brewed over acacia wood coals, and a chef who makes risotto in a tent kitchen with no electricity. This is safari dining.
StoriesDay 1 to Day 7 across the Serengeti plains — including the river crossing that made me cry and the balloon ride that changed my definition of 'morning.'
